Microsoft Xbox Elite Series 2 evaluate: the most effective PC controller you should buy

The unique Microsoft Xbox Elite controller was a masterpiece in high-end PC paddery, even when it was truly designed primarily for a console viewers… And the Xbox Elite Series 2 has constructed upon that heritage to create arguably the best controller for PC gaming ever made.

I solely say ‘arguably’ as a result of each time I say something about gamepads somebody pops as much as geeksplain how truly I feel you’ll discover the Steam Controller is a far superior piece of tech that tries to do greater than an ordinary gamepad, and also you’re simply not utilizing it proper, and are clearly not sensible sufficient to place the hassle into getting essentially the most out of The Gabe’s marvel pad.

I imply, they’re flawed. It’s a poorly constructed controller that’s making an attempt to do some sensible issues, however can solely ever ship a poor facsimile of the extent of command a devoted controller would be capable of provide. But there’s a stage of contrarian superiority that appears to stem from the ache individuals undergo in an effort to ‘master’ the Valve pad, and so they simply received’t shut up about it. How are you able to inform if somebody owns a Steam Controller? Don’t fear, they’ll let you know.

But I digress… It’s been a bizarrely lengthy whereas coming, however lastly Microsoft has shipped the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller and it’s a doozy. It’s nonetheless unusual the corporate has introduced the subsequent technology of Xbox games consoles launching subsequent 12 months, and has nonetheless determined to launch a brand new $180 (£160) model of the Elite gamepad regardless of there possible being an entire new design coming with the Xbox Scarlett console in 2020.

You received’t hear me complaining, nevertheless, as I’m a PC gamer and that is palms down the most effective PC pad round proper now. And till Microsoft go all out on the Series 3, as soon as the next-gen consoles have launched, it’s going to remain that manner. There are already a bunch of third social gathering controllers which have the identical, or comparable, performance, however the Microsoft construct high quality on show within the Elite Series 2 provides it a really feel you don’t discover elsewhere.

So, what’s modified with the brand new pad in contrast with the last-gen providing? The Microsoft engineers have re-tooled the insides of the Series 2, tidied up and added totally different connection choices, improved the triggers and thumbsticks, and mainly tuned the expertise to the next stage.

The key bodily variations are these thumbstick and set off enhancements. The triggers now have three totally different ranges of depth to them, as a substitute of the earlier twin configurations. That means now you can have a full size journey, permitting you higher analogue throttle management for instance, a half-length setting, and a super-short actuation that makes the set off really feel extra like an everyday bumper button.

A hair-trigger, so to talk.

That’s a comparatively primary change, however the tweak to the thumbsticks has a way more instant influence. One of the few locations the place the unique Elite controller fell down was within the thumbsticks. The alternative insurance policies for the Elite controller was glorious, however nonetheless the frustration having to RMA an costly pad as a result of the thumbstick had shaken unfastened was a ache. The new thumbsticks really feel lots tighter, and never solely due to the adjustable tensioning system on provide.

They really feel extra sturdy and strong, however additionally they include three distinct stiffness settings. On essentially the most aggressive setting they require extra drive to shift, making actions extra deliberate and making it faster to return to centre. Though by no means unfastened, on the lightest setting the sticks are extra reactive to smaller actions of your thumbs, and may doubtlessly be extra correct. Though additionally require extra focus too.

The different huge change is the battery. No longer will it’s a must to go fishing down the again of the couch for a spare AA when your pad’s batteries run dry, as a result of the Elite Series 2 now incorporates a ~40hr rechargeable pack put in contained in the controller.

That can both be seen as a blessing or a curse – it means you don’t have to hold spare AAs round with you, and you’ll plug, cost, and play all on the identical time, however it additionally signifies that ought to the inevitable occur down the road and the inbuilt battery begins to lose cost it’s going to be lots more durable to switch.

There’s a useful little dock you’ll be able to sit your pad atop to cost, or you’ll be able to wire straight into your PC by way of a USB-C cable. You may even maintain the dock in your carry case and wire by means of to have that act as your charging dock. How cute. Keeps the mud away if you’re not utilizing it too.

The different adjustments are lots much less thrilling. You can now have three, quite than two, profiles saved to the controller – three appears to very a lot be the magic quantity for the Elite Series 2. +

The paddles on the rear of the controller require a little bit extra stress to actuate, so that you’ll discover them clicking much less usually when you put the pad down someplace. And all of the buttons and profiles may be configured wirelessly by way of the Xbox Accessories app… as long as you’ve the newest model of Windows 10 that’s.

You nonetheless get the magnetically connected, changeable thumbstick heads, and D-pad, although the choices are totally different than with the OG Elite. There was a pair of long-boi thumbsticks to make use of on the Elite, however with the sequence 2 you solely get one in every of them, a single domed head, and a pair of wider heads.

And sadly they’re not interchangeable from generation-to-generation.

But that’s not such a difficulty, as a result of truthfully I don’t suppose I’d advocate anybody who has purchased an Elite pad, and are proud of it, to make the ‘upgrade.’ Don’t get me flawed, I nonetheless suppose the Elite Series 2 is a superb gamepad, and personally I feel it’s now the most effective PC controller you should buy. But solely as a result of it’s precisely just like the OG Elite solely extra so.

The unique was so good that as long as your pad is functioning I don’t suppose you’re actually going to get lots from making the change. The new options do make it objectively higher, however the core performance and really feel stays the identical… which is to say, nice. The built-in battery is far more handy, the added set off setting, and the additional tensioning of the thumbsticks is useful, however that each one feels kinda beauty.

That may sound like I’m being destructive, however it’s solely as a result of I’m such a fan of the unique pad. It was so good a bunch of peripheral makers, from Razer to Nacom, have tried to emulate it, even to enhance on it, however none have managed to finest the solidity and luxury of the Elite.

And that also stands with the Microsoft Xbox Elite Series 2 controller, it’s taken all the most effective bits from the unique, absorbed the additional options third social gathering pads have come and provided, and created the very best PC controller round.